Yandina yoghurt pioneers find export sweet spot

What started as a retirement hobby has fast become a lucrative business for locals Henry and Sandra Gosling.

The Yandina couple pioneered the coconut yoghurt product CO YO and now export the product to three countries. They’re currently fielding requests from 14 others!

Henry and Sandra shared some of the secrets of their overseas success with fellow local business owners at last night’s Sunshine Coast Export Networking event. The event was aimed at locals looking to expand their business horizons and Mr Gosling said it was a proud moment to share the secrets of CO YO’s success with others.

“This was supposed to be a little retirement job for us to sell a bit of yoghurt but it certainly has grown into so much more than that now,” Mr Gosling said.

“The market was screaming out for dairy free yoghurt.

“If we can succeed in the export market, others certainly can and it was a real honour and a buzz to pass on some key pointers to fellow local businesses at this terrific networking event.

“The Sunshine Coast is an ideal location for many industries to run successfully and it’s great that Council is providing opportunities like this export program to encourage and enable businesses to literally broaden their horizons into the export markets.”

Around 50 local businesses attended last night’s Export Networking Event which also served as the launch of the 2015 Premier of Qld Export Awards. Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Stephen Robinson said Council invited businesses to consider applying for the awards.

“Trade and Investment Queensland is looking for applications across a range of industries to compete in the prestigious Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards 2015.

“Receiving an export award is the highest recognition of exporting achievement and a fantastic way for businesses to boost their profile and reach just like 2015 winner CO YO.”

For more information about the Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards or to apply for the 2015 awards, visit http://www.tiq.qld.gov.au/awards/.

Businesses not yet ready to apply for an export award can join the Sunshine Coast Export Network Linked In page to connect with more than 200 people involved in exporting and share tips, contacts and opportunities related to international business at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Sunshine-Coast-Export-Network-6753175